North America Distribution

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Broad-leaved cattail is native to New England, where it is found in wet soils and shallow water of lakes, rivers, marshes, fens and ditches. It can aggressively colonize areas of human disturbance. It was widely used by Native Americans for medicine, food and crafts. For example, the roots were used internally to cure kidney stones, many used the down to prevent chafing in infants and as a pillow and mattress stuffing, and the roots and young shoots were often eaten, as was the pollen.

Family

Genus

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Information from Dichotomous Key of Flora Novae Angliae

2. Typha latifolia
L. N

broad-leaved cat-tail.
CT, MA, ME,
NH,
RI,
VT; nearly throughout. Saturated soils and shallow water of lake shores, river shores, marshes, ditches, impoundments, and fens.
Typha latifolia, though native, can be an aggressive colonizer, especially in areas with a history of human disturbance.

1×2.
Typha angustifolia
×
Typha latifolia
→Typha×‌glauca
Godr. is an often robust, cat-tail hybrid that is more common in wetlands with a history of human disturbance. It is known from
CT, MA, ME,
NH,
RI,
VT and is characterized by carpellate spikes 19–25 mm thick in fruit, usually separated from the staminate spike by a short distance, compound pedicels of the denuded axis 0.6–2 mm tall, carpellate bracteoles present (but inconspicuous and evident only at magnification), and brown staminate scales. Additionally, the stigmas are 0.06–0.11 mm wide at the widest point and usually more resemble
T. angustifolia (i.e., they are relatively narrow).